Economic impact of an electronic alert system to prevent venous thromboembolism in hospitalised patients

Objectives: The prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a priority for improved safety in hospitalised patients. Worldwide, there is growing concern over the undersuse of appropriate thromboprophylaxis. Computerised decision support improves the implementation of thromboprophylaxis and reduces inpatient VTE. However, an economic assessment of this approach has not yet been performed. Objectives: To evaluate the economic impact of an electronic alert (e-alert) system to prevent VTE in hospitalised patients over a 4 year period. Patients/methods: All hospitalised patients at a single institution during the first semesters of 2005-2009 (n = 32 280) were included. All cases of VTE developed during hospitalisation were followed and direct costs of diagnosis and management collected. Results: E-alerts achieved a sustained reduction of the incidence of in-hospital VTE, OR 0.50 (95% CI, 0.29-0.84), the impact being especially significant in medical patients, OR 0.44 (95% CI, 0.22-0.86). No increase in prophylaxis-related bleeding was observed. In our setting, the mean direct cost (during hospitalisation and after discharge) of an in-hospital VTE episode is euro7058. Direct costs per single hospitalised patient were reduced after e-alerts from euro21.6 to euro11.8, while the increased use of thromboprophylaxis and the development of e-alerts meant euro3 and euro0.35 per patient, respectively. Thus, the implementation of e-alerts led to a net cost saving of euro6.5 per hospitalised patient. Should all hospitalised patients in Spain be considered, total yearly savings would approach euro30 million. Conclusions: E-alerts are useful and cost-effective tools for thromboprophylaxis strategy in hospitalised patients. Fewer thromboembolic complications and lower costs are achieved by its implementation.